From John Bayard and Charles Pettit (unpublished)
New York December 31st 1785.
Sir,

We think it our duty to Communicate to Your Excellency and the Honorable Council the intelligence We have this day received from His Excellency Governor Clinton which is that he has been informed of undoubted authority, that a large Quantity of Powder and Lead has lately been purchased and lodged at Fishkiln, with a View of transporting it to the Susquehanna.

That the Quantity vastly exceeds what is necessary for the peaceable and ordinary Consumption of the Country, and that there remains no doubt of its being intended during the Course of this Winter to be transported to Wyoming. The Governor is not at liberty to give us the Name of his Informat, but assures Us, We may depend upon the Truth of his information, and added had We not been here as Representatives of the State, he should have thought it his duty to have given Your Excellency the above Information.

We have not yet been favored with the Act passed by our Assembly respecting the Settlers at Wyoming, but doubt not of the Wisdom and propriety of it.

We wish only to suggest the Necessity of the State, being well informed with respect to the views and intentions of these deluded People, and suggest the propriety of Council directing us to employ a proper person or persons to watch the Movements of these Stores and give the earliest intelligence thereof to Government.

We shall carefully attend to Your Excellency and Councils directions on this and every other Business, You may see proper to Charge us with and are with the greatest respect and esteem, Your Excellency’s Most obedient and very humble Servants.

John Bayard,
Charles Pettit.
To His Excellency the President and The Honorable Supreme Executive Council.
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